Earliest map of Makkah on show at SIBF

Sharjah - Rare literature about the Gulf has surfaced at Sharjah International Book Fair including the first printed mention of Dubai which dates back to 1590, where it's called as Dibei.

The first thing that catches your attention is a pair of globes. They are not the familiar blue and green globes you used to see when you were at school.  And you reach close to them. There is a description written below them. And that invites you to this stall at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2015.
The description says the pair of globes was made my famous Italian globe maker Vincenzo Coronelli in 1681 and was dedicated to William of Orange, Stadholder of The Netherlands and King William III of England. 

The stall presents rare and antique books from the Netherlands-based Antiquariaat Forum and Antiquariat Inlibris. As you enter the stall and go through the displayed books, their prices would be one of the first things you notice. Priced in euros ranging from 1,500 to 780,000, the books here are dated back to 15th century to early 20th century.
The costliest of them is the first printed reference to the Arabian Gulf region, with the earliest map to call the Gulf "Sinus Arabicus". Published in 1508, this is the first Latin edition of the most important and 'earliest printed collection of voyages and discoveries.' More than that, this is the 'earliest modern map to show Makkah.
Laurens R. Hesselink from Antiquariaat Forum says he has centuries-old books, manuscripts, autographs, maps and more from all over the world. "Here in Sharjah, it's our third visit at the book fair. We have a lot of antique books that can make history enthusiasts from the region happy." Hesselink's collection include the first books printed in Germany from Arabic type  among which is Ibn Sina's second book of Qanun at-Tibb, published by Peter Kirsten in 1609. Another interesting collection is a library on Arabian horse breeding which has more than 1,000 volumes, published in the years 1746 to 2007.
Hesselink has a mischievous smile when he answers the question on the sources of these rare collections. "That's my job," he answers and for an unconvinced look, his answer becomes clearer. "Most of them are from Europe, from private collections." For a book house that is in business from late 19th century, it's possible to acquire such rare collections.
Collection of the rarest copies of Holy Quran
Hesselink has a variety of Holy Quran collections. There is leaf from a Kufic manuscript of a 9th century Quran on vellum. The first Latin edition of Quran and the second edition in any language (first was in Arabic printed in 1537) was printed in 1543.
The first Quran in English, translated directly from the Arabic is another rare book. The first edition was released in 1734 and it's described as a landmark effort to bring an accurate version of the Quran to the English-speaking world.
Another is a first scholarly-printed Quran with an accurate Latin translation, printed in 1698.
Arabian Gulf in history

The first known printed reference to the Arabian Gulf region is in Latin, in 1508. The 'earliest printed collection of voyages and discoveries' includes a map showing Africa, Arabia and Europe and contains reports of the voyages of Columbus, Vespucci, Cabral and most importantly, the historic voyage of Vasco da Gama to India, touching the 'Sheikhdom of Julfar', presently known as Ras Al Khaimah. The first printed mention of Dubai dates back to 1590, where it's called as Dibei.
Hesselink's collection gives a deep insight into the history of the region's lifestyle, too. It's not just descriptions from travellers. A 1669-book on precious stones and pearls devotes a large chapter to the pearls and pearl fishing in the Arabian Gulf. Official gazettes, books on religion, politics, militaria, literature, medicine and much more are there.
And the man is all praise of the Sharjah International Book Fair. "I am happy that the people here are interested in history and that brings us back to Sharjah International Book Fair," says Hessenlink.

• Sharjah International Book Fair
• Sharjah